Hospitable charity

Story by Tan Ching Yee, DISTED Diploma in Hospitality Business Management student 

A group of DISTED College scholarship holders, who are pursuing the Diploma in Hospitality Business Management, did a good deed in contributing everyday necessities to the St Nicholas Home for the visually impaired in Penang. 

S Katherasan of St Nicholas Home Penang (left) receiving the donation of basic necessities from DISTED hospitality student Tan Ching Yee. Looking on are the other members of the charity project (from right) Lim Xin Bei, Tam Shu Ting, Tan Li Nian and Sherene Chan Zhi Yen.

On 4 June 2012, they visited the institution to present food items comprising 14 bottles of cooking oil, 10 cans of sardines, 48 packets of sugar and a carton of condensed milk.  

Project leader Tan Ching Yee said: “We did fund-raising activities to provide for the donation in kind to the home as part of our community work.” 

“Life is about sharing blessings and joy.  

“By doing our bit to help the less fortunate, we can make them feel happier and encourage them to take life more positively.  

“In turn, the community service gives us personal satisfaction and joy as caring individuals,” she noted. 

Her course mate Tam Shu Ting commented: “Showing care through the project was a good opportunity to put into practice the moral values and the social responsibility that we’ve learnt in our studies.” 

Another hospitality student Tan Li Nian remarked: “We also gained valuable experience in organizational skills and teamwork through the community care project.” 

“By carrying out the charity work, we also hope to encourage more college mates to volunteer their time and effort to reach out to those in need in our society,” she added. 

DISTED hospitality scholarship holders ran a fund-raising project to contribute basic necessities to the St Nicholas Home for the visually impaired in Penang.

DISTED administration executive in charge of scholarships Norhiza Mohd Noor said: “We’re very proud of the hospitality students as they had taken the initiative to learn to contribute to society and bring comfort to other people.” 

“We like our scholarship holders to engage in community work to gain a more holistic learning experience beyond the classroom that promotes personal growth and good citizenship. 

“This is in line with the college’s community CONNECT programme that seeks to nurture a caring culture,” she explained. 

“We recognize such noble efforts of our students by presenting them with co-curriculum appreciation certificates during the college’s scholarship and prize presentation ceremony,” she added.

DISTED hospitality student Tan Ching Yee (second from left) and her charity project team members meeting S Katherasan of St Nicholas Home Penang (left) to hand over their contribution of foodstuff to the institution.